Chapter 6

Games and Incidents

"Harry," said Ginny sternly as she stood in their recreation room, arms crossed at her husband on the couch.

"Ginny," said Harry, Albus and Scorpius looked between the two.

"Why?" asked Ginny.

"It was a rough day," said Harry calmly, he looked at the television casually.

"Harry, look at me," said Ginny, she sighed, "Is there not enough animals in this house? We have three owls, a Pigmy Puff, a dog, and now... that."

"Her name is Ginny, and she is for Lily's birthday," said Harry, cuddling a little orange kitten in his arms.

"... she doesn't like cats that much, and you know it," said Ginny, she squinted, "Ginny."

"... Because I love you," said Harry, still petting the purring kitten.

"Harry, what are we going to do with a kitten?" asked Ginny.

"I will take her to work with me," said Harry, "In my pocket..."

"... your turning into Hagrid... Harry that's a lot of animals... six... six animals," said Ginny.

"Mmmm," Albus mumbled to himself, Ginny looked at where he and Scorpius sat looking at the television.

"... what else did you get," said Ginny, looking back at Harry.

"... Well," said Harry, indicating to the boys to go, "There was a sale and Malfoy said Scorpius could get a pet and... your going to laugh... but.."

"Aren't they awesome," came Albus as he and Scorpius came flying down the stairs with two very sleepy ferrets, "I haven't decided his name yet."

"I've never had a pet of my own before," beamed Scorpius, cuddling his yawning snow white ferret, "We both have one."

"There best friends, we've decided," grinned Albus.

"..." Ginny's eyes began to water and she covered her mouth as she ran from the room.

"Is she okay?" asked Scorpius, he looked upset, "Does she not like ferrets?"

"Well..." Harry stopped as a screech of laughter came from up the stairs, "I think she'll be fine."

The next few days went by with Lily renaming the new addition of the Potter house Vivi instead of Ginny, which had been a very bad ploy at favor from her. As well as a lot of time with Albus and Scorpius staring at the ferrets sleeping, neither had come up with a name yet and everytime Albus asked for ideas from his parents, Harry would suggest names like Dragon and Ginny would just start laughing.

Early Sunday morning, Rose opened Albus door to see the sight in front of her with both amusement and annoyance. The two had passed out on the ground, their ferrets still out and passed out around their respective owners. Her plan had been to come in and wake them with a pillow or something, but in loo of their new companions, she simply sat in between them. Trying not to laugh at the white ferrets and the story her Dad had told her.

"Are you two going to sleep all day?" she asked, giving them both a little shake, there was a few mumbles.

"Wake up!" the door banged open and Dominique stood, already holding her broom, "Come on, Quidditch in ten!"

"What?!" Albus and Scorpius jumped up only to smack into Rose and their ferrets to scurry into their cage, "Ow!"

"Does no one just shake people," said Scorpius rubbing his head, "Rose, when did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago, thanks a lot Dom," said Rose, rubbing her chin, "Way to be subtle."

"I want to play Quidditch, and I'm sure these two will want breakfast first, so I'm not being subtle, Rosie," said Dominique, walking off, then returning, "Seriously, for once we have an even amount and I don't want to waste this."

"Seriously? It's seven in the morning," said Scorpius, looking at Albus digital clock.

"If you think that's pushy, wait until you hear Roxanne," said Albus as he stood up and closed the cage for their already sleeping ferrets, "Rose, what are you all doing here?"

"Excuse me?" asked Rose, who had been talking to Scorpius about just that, "No hello? Haven't seen you in ages? Sorry I haven't called you in a week?"

"...Hello, sorry I..." Albus began, Rose hit him with a pillow, "Ow!"

"Did you two forget I even exist?" asked Rose, her nose and ears were red and she was scowling now.

"No we haven't," said Scorpius quickly, he dove for something under Albus bed, "I got you a book, even."

"He nearly bought out the bookstore," mumbled Albus, throwing his pillow back on the bed.

"I haven't read this one yet," Rose had began looking at this new book for her library, "What did you get?"

"Dad regretted not taking the car, leave it at that," said Albus, but Rose's wrath was momentarily distracted by Scorpius many books and her new one, enough for him to ask again, "So, why is everyone here?"

"What is next Friday?" asked Rose, staring at him, seriously.

"July 20th," said Scorpius as Albus had a look of concern on his face.

"Crap baskets," said Albus, he sighed, "So today is the day he chose to have his annual Cousin's Quidditch Game?"

"What's happening," said Scorpius as Albus began digging through his drawers for clothes.

"He asks for very little unless it's material things, it's the least we can really do for him," said Rose, waving off Scorpius, "You know how much this means to him. It's the only day he's actually in a great mood."

"What are we talking about?" asked Scorpius as Albus threw as shirt in his face, "Pft."

"Morning!" came James as he swung through the door, a very pleasant look on his face, "Are you two getting up yet? Food's ready and Mom's playing commentator. Scorpius, your on my team."

"Hurry up and get dressed you two," said Rose, "I am not getting stuck as Keeper this time."

"Why are we having a Quidditch match, and why is James so pleasant this morning?" asked Scorpius.

"James' birthday is next Friday and every summer we have a cousin Quidditch game... which can't be on his birthday because everyone always dirty and covered in blood... and apparently no one else wants cake then," shrugged Albus, he froze as he put his shirt on, "Wait if your on his team... aw come on. I don't want to be on Roxanne's... she's insane."

"Why is there blood?" asked Scorpius, as Albus headed out the door.

Rose sat on her broom nervously, she hated this, every year. It was some solace that this year she was on James' team and not Roxanne's. Rose wasn't the worst at flying, that would be her brother, but compared to her other cousins, she felt like it. Roxanne and James were floating next to each other talking and Ginny stood below with the small trunk that was a child's version of the balls they used at school. There had been an argument about switching them the year prior, but Harry and Ron wrestling with a bludger trying to hit a muggle house a block over, had ended that debate permanently.

"Right, since we have an even amount AND more then usual, we can actually play a decent game of five on five with just us. So two chasers per team and one beater," said James, he looked at Roxanne, she was pulling her dark red hair back out of her face, a serious look on her ark face.

"No one's playing their normal post, we drew straws on whose doing what," said Roxanne, a smirk on her lips, "So it goes as follows..."

"Bet there was no straws, there just messing with us so no one argues," muttered Albus, who floated in between Rose and Scorpius.

"..." Rose moved away from him a bit, she was still upset the two hadn't even wrote her for a week, book be damned.

"Albus, your seeker. Try not to kill yourself this time. Mayella, who actually came this year, you're a Chaser with Me. Hugo, your Keeper... please don't break a window, Aunt Ginny has made that very clear the last few windows and door. Dom..." Roxanne was cut off, as Dominique flew down to get a bat.

"Yes!" grinned Dominique, holding it in glee, "Finally!"

"Oi, don't make me regret letting you be a Beater," said Roxanne, sternly, "No. Killing. Birds. Got it."

"It was one time," whispered Dominique to a horrified Scorpius, "It was an accident."

"Hah," said Rose with a scoff, she remembered that day very vividly and an accident it was not.

"Okay, team," beamed James, looking at his ranks proudly, "After some argument... I mean straw pulling, it is as follows... Rose, you and I are Chasers. I say this because last years Keeping was almost the end of this tradition, and you know why. Fred, your Beater..."

"Whoa... Whoa... what?" asked Fred, "Why am I Beater?"

"Because you are... in fact... a Beater," said Mayella with a sigh, "And a bit of a Wanker."

"I heard that," said Fred, giving the blonde a mock glare, "Maybe I want to take a break. You did, Seeker."

"Why is this an argument..." said James.

"I'll be Beater," said Scorpius, with a shrug, he'd never tried before, but why not.

"I thought you'd be more of a Keeper," said Dominique, she gave a joking wink at Scorpius.

"... moving on," said James, shaking his head at his part Veela cousin, "Fine, Scorpius. Your Beater. Fred your Keeper. Lily..."

"Seeker!" she said happily.

"Really," mumbled Albus, a look of despair on his face.

"Lily. No biting. I mean it," said Ginny standing up from the trunk as Scorpius flew down for a bat.

"One time," muttered Lily under he breath, "He started it."

"I caught the snitch," said Albus with wide eyes, "That's kind of the point of the game."

"You kicked my broom," said Lily, eyes narrowed.

"You pulled my shirt," said Albus.

"You took my glasses."

"You punched me in the face."

"Is this from one game?" asked Scorpius, looking at an exasperated Ginny.

"This is every game," said Ginny, "There's less violence in the actual league."

"Reassuring," said Scorpius as he floated back up as everyone took their positions.

Two trees had rings in them, obviously put there by Ginny to act as goal posts. Rose was glad for once not to have to be Keeper, especially since James and Roxanne were both chasers today. That was not a broken nose or black eye she wanted. Hugo must have been thinking the same thing, as he seemed to be giving a great distance from his posts.

"Alright. No biting. No kicking. No Wrestling each other into a tree and above all have fun," said Ginny, she opened the trunk and let the snitch go, and grabbed the Quaffle.

"Mom, you just took all the fun out of it," said James, she pointed at him and narrowed her eyes, "Fine, I won't."

The game began with Roxanne getting the Quaffle, which Rose had actually managed to grab from her in passing. It seemed like they were playing pass for the next fifteen minutes. Between Mayella and her, James and Roxanne. Scorpius had already got the hang of making sure Dominique never got to lay a bat on the one bludger that was in the game, obviously he'd already seen the malice in her eyes. Finally James was the first to score a point. Not really a big feet as Hugo had actually dodged it rather then catch the ball.

"Hugo!" snapped Roxanne.

"I panicked," said Hugo, he flew back to his post Mayella grabbed the Quaffle.

It went on like this for ages, James team was a head and Rose had finally got the Quaffle from Roxanne and Mayella. She was about to score an easy point when a bludger hit the back of her broom and caused her to drop it right into Roxanne's hands. Rose went to glare at Dominique, but instead saw she pointing to an apologetic Scorpius who was indicating he'd swung wrong.

"See, were late," came the voice of her Dad, Ron and Hermione had finally gotten there, "We should have just left when they did."

"If you hadn't spent an hour on your hair..." Hermione sighed, sitting next to Ginny, "Where's Harry?"

"It's Sunday," said Ginny casually, a roll of her eyes could be seen.

"Rose!" called out James, Rose stopped listening in, "Can you at least try and get the Quaffle."

"I did, and was sabotaged by our own team no less," said Rose, looking at Scorpius.

"In my defense, I was trying to hit it before Dom," said Scorpius, "Sorry."

"He did what I wanted to do," shrugged Dominique, she glared at him, "Stop blocking my hits."

"Then don't say, 'Doesn't that squirrel look devious' before trying," said Scorpius, Dominique laughed.

"I'm not going to hit a squirrel," said Dominique with a shake of her head.

"Don't trust her," said Fred, from his stance.

"I resent that, when have I ever hit an animal... that bird doesn't count," said Dominique as Albus and Lily made a similar noise above her, "Why aren't you two looking for the snitch."

"I'm going to give Albus a head start," said Lily with a confident smirk, Rose snorted.

"Thanks," said Albus, dryly, he looked at Scorpius, "I'm not that bad."

"No, but I'm that good," said Lily with a laugh.

"Enough trash talk, " said Roxanne, "I'm getting hungry and I'd like to get this game over. So Lily, hurry up and catch the snitch."

"Why did you make me Seeker?" scoffed Albus.

"Because James chose the teams. I wanted Scorpius," said Roxanne with a sigh, "He always gets Lily, so I was hoping to even off the teams, but..."

"... well then," said Albus, crossing his arms, "I feel unwanted... Like Casperson on the Slytherin team."

"Ha," Fred burst into laughter, a Quaffle soard passed, "May!"

"What?" snickered Mayella, "I wonder if it's true they just pointed at him and gave him no choice."

"It is," said Scorpius, grinning, "My sister told me. They walked into the common room and just told him to meet them at practice."

"That poor kid," snorted James, "No wonder he started crying his last game."

"What happened?" asked Roxanne, Hugo and Lily shrugged.

"Kids, when your done, I made lunch!" it was Hermione, who'd come back outside and sat down next to Ron, and it looked like Harry was home now.

"Uhg," groaned Rose, Scorpius looked at her with a raised brow, "We might want to stay up here a bit longer."

"Is no one playing?" asked Roxanne, as she held the Quaffle, no one moving anywhere.

"Time out, I'm hungry," said Fred, he looked at James.

"Call it a tie," yawned James, Lily scoffed, "We all know you would have caught it, chill out, sis."

"Why do I even play," said Albus as he descended, Rose felt bad for her cousin.

"Because it's not about winning, it's about bonding," said James patting his shoulder, "But we can't deny the past, can we."

"All her wins, have certain circumstances with them," said Albus giving a light sigh.

"I'd like to hear them," said Scorpius as there was a series of eye rolls and scoffs following his statement.

As lunch faded into dinner, and many of the cousin's cleared out, Scorpius and Albus fell easily back into their normal banter with Rose. At this moment she lay on Albus' bed playing with the still unnamed ferrets that had taken a liking to her hair. Albus and Scorpius had filled her in on their summer so far and Rose had indicated that she had been very bored and Dominique had been over more then she'd really wanted her too, because said cousin had a tendency of rifling through her clothes and critiquing them.

"Vicky does the same thing, but at least she's nice about it," said Rose as Scorpius ferret bounced over her head to take out Albus', "What are their names?"

"No idea," said both of them.

"Scorpius, does your Dad know?" asked Rose, Scorpius saw the glint in her eye.

"I told him I got a pet, didn't say what though. He really didn't ask," said Scorpius, he raised a brow, "You know Mr. Potter asked if he'd said anything yet..."

"That's because of the Bouncing Ferret, story," said Rose, calmly, Albus and Scorpius looked at her, "It's quite the tale. Filled with magic, hilarity, revenge, and illegal actions."

"... this story, are you going to tell it?" asked Albus, he and Scorpius turned to looked at her.

"I'm intrigued," said Scorpius, as he picked up his ferret, "This story some how relates I take it, to your Dad's nickname for mine?"

"Oh, yes," smirked Rose, a knock came at the door, and Ginny's face peered around the corner.

"Since no one's actually made dinner, we're ordering in," said Ginny, Harry's voice came from down the hall and she leaned out, "Well if you and Ron weren't playing those video games, then you would have a choice, wouldn't you."

"Who let them go to the recreation room?" asked Albus, as Ginny leaned back in.

"So the choices are as follows; Italian or Korean," said Ginny, "It's tied right now... James you don't get to choose just because it was Quidditch day."

"Come on Mom," came a groan from James and then a laugh from Fred, "Shut it, Fred."

"Whatever," said Albus with a shrug, Rose did the same.

"I will eat anything," said Rose, her nose squinted, "Except beets and kale... actually there are a few things I won't eat."

"I don't like raisins," said Albus, Scorpius gave him a horrified look, "They have a strange texture."

"You ate fig pudding," said Scorpius with a raised brow.

"Those were raisins in there," said Albus, he looked confused, "Maybe it's dates I don't like."

"All the girl's will be thrilled," came a yelled from James' room and then a loud , "Ow!"

"Thank you Lily," said Ginny with a sigh, "Scorpius."

"Italian," suggested Scorpius, Ginny looked relieved.

"Really? Good," said Ginny, closing the door, "I win!"

"So this story," said Scorpius looking back at Rose.

"Come on you three, we're going to set up in the Rec room," said James, opening the door with Fred leaning on him, "It's turning into a game night."

"Glad I stayed, that always means epic stories and someone getting a black eye," smirked Fred, "Roxanne's going to be miffed. I told her to stay."

"Yeah, well Rose is trying to tell us a story, so bugger off," said Albus, he glared, "And knock."

"Pft, knock," laughed James, he rolled his eyes, "If you want to a decent spot for food and fun, get to the basement."

"I'll tell you guys, later," said Rose, jumping up, "I'm not fighting for a couch spot with my brother."

It was a short while later when the three had claimed their spots around the large coffee table in the recreation room in the basement. Hugo and Lily had brought down a series of games that Scorpius wasn't familiar with. He assumed they were most likely muggle based games, as he and his sister's had played nearly all the board games they'd ever come across. Albus and Scorpius had opted to sit on the floor instead of the couch with Rose. Scorpius felt more comfortable in his corner, since he knew that everyone was going to be down here with them. He felt a little childish in his thoughts, but he was nervous about being around the Weasley's. He'd started to feel more comfortable around Rose's family before the whole tree incident, but now he wasn't sure how to act. At least with Rose or Albus on either side of him, he felt more secure.

"Alright, budge over Rose," said Fred as he plopped down next to his cousin, "I'm going no where near James after he eats those cheese bites."

"I'll remember that next time you eat fish tacos," said James as he sat next to Scorpius, who looked a bit concerned, "He's only joking."

"Alright, let the games begin," came Ginny as she and Hermione brought down plates and silverware, Ron and Harry bringing in the rear with cartons of food.

"I told you I could have made dinner," said Hermione, Ron made a noise, "Has anyone in our household died, yet?"

"The houseplant has," said Ron in a low whisper, "Thank merlin for the House Elves."

"Where is Kreacher?" asked Scorpius, realizing he hadn't seen the Potter's house elf in a few days.

"Vacation," said James, grabbing a plate, "He goes on a beach trip for a few days every summer."

"Alright, everyone dig in, any idea which game we're playing?" asked Harry as everyone riffled through the boxes, "Would you Rather?"

"I thought we banned that," said Ginny with a raised brow.

"Ron, James, Fred... no elaborating why you've chosen," said Harry quickly, the three looked horrified.

"Harry, that is part of the fun. You need to illustrate why choosing to wipe with sandpaper is a better choice prickly poison ivy," said Ron defensively, "Otherwise it's just strange."

"What?" asked Scorpius, this was already very concerning.

"It's a muggle game. You choose which you'd rather do. Some are super mild, like a choice between living on pasta the rest or your life or burgers," said Fred, he smirked, "And then it gets lively."

"Don't worry, there's non-muggle ones in there too," said Rose, "everyone added some in at one point. Normally you choose one person to answer it, we play everyone has to make a choice. If more agree with one side, the group with the most side gains a point each. We like to argue our point to get more to agree with one side and you have thirty seconds to do so."

"... Interesting," smiled Scorpius, he looked at the cards.

Ten minutes in and Scorpius felt he knew far too much about the people around him, but he was too busy laughing at Ginny and Hugo's argument claiming that they would rather be stuck in a tent with a horny otter then a menstruating Ron, which the card had been re-written to say."

"I am not participating," said Ron, he glared at Ginny, "Rude, just rude."

"I wrote it," said Hermione with a small chuckle.

"Betrayal," he scoffed, "I expect it from my offspring, my sister, and my best friend...but my wife."

"Should really be the first one you should expect, mate," said Harry, he picked up a card, "Sorry the Otter in the tent wins... you know since you were the only one not to make that choice."

"Hurtful," said Ron with a head shake, "So hurtful."

"Alright, would you rather attend Illvermony; the American Witch and Wizarding School or Castel-o-brux-o? School in Brazil?" asked Harry, butchering the last one.

"Cast-tell-o-broo-shoo," said Hermione, Rose, and Scorpius at the same time.

"Yes... that," said Harry, he looked at the card, "Brazil is nice."

"Illvermony is up to par with Hogwarts, so I would choose that," said Hermione, she squinted, "Actually... hmm."

"Castelobruxo specializes in Herbology and honestly not my strong point, so Illvermony," said Fred.

"Hmm, Brazilian girls or American girls," said James, "Choices."

"Either way your not getting any action, so, what's the point in that," said Fred, he was hit with a bread stick, "Thank you."

"There better not be any action happening, period," said Ginny, pointing at him.

"Scorpius?" asked James, "I choose Brazil."

"Hmm, I could spend some time with my cousin... but Castelobruxo has better studies in Magizooligy... so Castelobruxo it is," smiled Scorpius.

"Illvermony, ay? Your Mom went to Hogwarts, didn't she?" asked Ginny, Hermione nodded.

"I tutored her once in fifth year. I say once because well... I really had very little free time," said Hermione looking at Harry and Ron.

"It was your idea to start an underground army," muttered Harry, "I just wanted an uprising and to pass my OWLs."

"So very little you wanted," said Ron with a sigh, "Army was key to that though. Organization and all that grandeur."

"I think I'm going with Castelobruxo," said Albus, he looked at Rose, she sighed.

"Well, to prevent your death at the hands of a Lobisomem," scoffed Rose, "Count me in."

"No, I would befriend a Curupira, and we would sit in the trees and observe them," said Scorpius calmly.

"How would you even befriend one," said Rose, as Scorpius whispered what it was to Albus.

"Well we could use Rose then, she has red hair," said Albus, Scorpius shook his head, "Why not. Uncle Ron. How mad would you be if Rose married a genie. Ow!"

"I did not say that. I did not say that at all," said Scorpius as Rose hit both of them with a pillow.

"No idea what's happening, but I want to go and just see whatever it is take place," said Lily, Hugo nodded.

"I don't know, now I'm torn," said Ginny as Hermione laughed, and Ron looked confused.

"Why is our daughter marrying a genie?" asked Ron, Hermione laughed harder, and Ron looked at Harry, Harry shrugged.

"Ow! Stop it Rose," said Albus.

"At this point he would feed us to an Amazon Horned Serpent," said Scorpius as he took the pillow from Rose.

"Good," said Rose, "I hope it only has one tooth."

"Alright, that's enough guys," laughed Ginny drawing a card, she snorted, "I feel like we wrote these on a very anti-Ron day."

"So a Monday," said Harry, he was hit with a pillow, "thru Sunday, then."

"Would you rather spend a year following the Chudley Cannons around on an all expense paid trip or actually follow a good team with Ron as your guide," snorted Ginny, there was a series of snickers and Hugo actually choked on his soda.

"Well that's easy," Scorpius snorted, there were murmurs of agreement.

"Dad, you better brush up on your guide voice," laughed Hugo, Ron gave him a deeply concerned look, but before he could retort, Scorpius continued.

"Chudley Cannons all the way," said Scorpius, there was a moment of silence and he noticed the disturbed looks from a few of them, Albus and Rose looked mortified, "What? Oh come on, Pemberton and Trailers are like the best out there, who else would you want to follow."

"Oh no," said Hermione as she saw the glint in Ron's eye apparently.

"You're a Cannon supporter?" he asked calmly.

"Anyone with taste is..." Scorpius was cut off as Ron grinned at him and he suddenly felt uneasy.

"Thank you!" yelled Ron, he scoffed, "Finally someone who shares my eloquent taste in talent. Have you watched any clips of older games."

"Of coarse," said Scorpius, he felt a strange ease in the tension he'd felt at times in the room, "Pre 1972 games were the best, but my favorite one was the 1997 one..."

"Thank you, explain that to these two," said Ron, pointing to Hugo and Rose.

"I..." What Scorpius was about to say was cut off as Teddy came racing down the stairs, wearing his new Auror robes and completely out of breath.

"There's... been... and incident," he took a deep breath, "Your needed immediately, both of you. Department's gone to shit... now. You two Hermione. Paulson's dead."

The three of them looked at each other before jumping to their feet and speeding off after Teddy, who was already sprinting up the stairs. It was successfully the end of game night.

TO BE CONTINUED...